Hey guys my name is Jason Meadows, I am 15 years old and have been flying R/C for a little over 5 years. I am going to compete in my first IMAC contest next month at Abilene contest in the great state of TEXAS, and was wondering if anyone has any tips,story's, or thoughts for someones first IMAC experience?

Thanks,

-Jason S. Meadows

Hi Jason, The first and I think the most important is realx and have fun. We were all flew in our first contest and know that help from your fellow fliers is just a request away. Treat the contest as just another day at your home field for practise.
When you fly you will fly your sequence twice. If you are going to a new field you might want to get there in time on Friday to take a flight and just familarize yourself with the field and the landing approaches. I have found it helps me jist to relax and get to know the surroundings. When you are flying in front of the judges you will need a caller. If you are not bringing someone with you, I am positive you won't have a problem to find one your fellow pilots to call for you, just ask. Makw sure you intorduce yourself to everyone. You are going to have a great time.

Give your plane a good once over and make sure everything is tight and in good working order beofer you leave home. Make sure batteries are all charged.

Have fun and welcome

Don't worrie about where you finish ! The most important thing is meet new people and make friendships that will last a life time ! Enjoy your self and everything else will fall into place.

Hi Jason,
Make sure and take your time flying the sequences. New guys tend to try and rush it too much. Enjoy yourself and have fun!

One other thing is to remember to breathe. I've seen tons of first time contestants stand all scrunched up and turning all sorts of colors because they are only breathing ever now and then.

I find I still get nervous during the first 4 or 5 figures in my first sequence at a contest, then I'll remember to breathe, I'll spread my legs out about shoulders width apart then it's "game on" from that point

Gee Bill, I thought I was the only one who didn't breath when I flew my round. It is reassuring that I am not the only one.

Ted

Ted,

I saw something pretty wild this weekend that was caused by a nervous pilot, I'm sure we have all seen a 72Mhz antenna shaking at the tip from nervousness but I and the other judge actually noticed a basic pilot shaking so bad his 2.4Ghz antenna could be seen shaking at the tip. I almost talked the other judge into agreeing that he needed to land between the sequences because he was shaking so bad. Come to find out later that he know he had engine issues that made him always wonder if it was going to go deadstick at any second so I offered my plane to him for the rest of the contest and that worked wonders, he went from 9th to 5th in a single round.

Just goes to show that once you eliminate the cause of the nervousness, you can really concentrate on what you need to do

Wow Bill, I must say I have never seen anyone that nervous, although I think I have been very close.

Jason, Bill lending his plane is very typical of the kind of help and commardery that exists at an IMAC contest. It happens all the time at an IMC contest from my experience. When one of us are in trouble with our plane everyone gathers around and helps you out. It truely is an amazing gathering of friends both old and new.

Have fun

jason, Ted is exactly right, My first contest I had a rudder servo start to fail. An Unlimited pilot noticed it and tossed a brand new one to me and said install it just give it back at the end of the weekend, I tried to give it back at the end and he would not take it. I then tried to hand him money and he would not take it either

Another thing you really want to try to do which helps a lot in learning what the judges are looking for is to scribe for the judges. What that means is that you sit with the judges and right down the scores they give you for each maneuver, you will learn tons as most judges will give you the reasons they gave a certain score, time allowing of course.

Posted By Bill James on 29 Jul 2009 9:05


Just goes to show that once you eliminate the cause of the nervousness, you can really concentrate on what you need to do

Ok, please eliminate rolling circles. They make me nervous. All present should be running for their lives if they knew the chaos in my head

Posted By Rick Kroeze on 29 Jul 2009 10:38

Posted By Bill James on 29 Jul 2009 9:05


Just goes to show that once you eliminate the cause of the nervousness, you can really concentrate on what you need to do

Ok, please eliminate rolling circles. They make me nervous. All present should be running for their lives if they knew the chaos in my head

Hey Rick

First thing, I think I took your email in the wrong context and for that I apologize.

Now back to your post, at least you can do a roller. My head knows what to do to do them but try and tell my thumbs that. NOT happening...total disconnect

And at this very moment, I'll bet cash money what is going on in my head would clear a contest out in seconds

Now thats Funny right there I don't care who you are !

Thanks guys

This has helped alot so I am going to try and be calm and patient and remember to breath and do every thing I can to Just have fun and not be nervous. And don't do any rolling circles if im ever around Rick! LOL

Thanks for all the tips and keep them coming.

Jason

3 things to do at your first contest. well actually every contest.

1. Have FUN.
2. Fly against yourself and no one else.
3. Make sure whatever you do, take your plane home in one piece!


On #3.... you'll be happy and your parents will be too!

Posted By Jason Meadows on 29 Jul 2009 13:39
And don't do any rolling circles if im ever around Rick! LOL

Thanks for all the tips and keep them coming.

Jason

Jason the answer is don't be around Rick while he's attempting rolling circles.

I think we are all trying to say we are all somewhat nervous and stressed standing on the line. Being able to deal with and overcome it is one of the skills to master.

Hi jason This will be my first imac also i have been flying for about 6 years but imac for only 2 or 3 months so hopefully we can just relax and have fun there will also be one more first timer also. will enjoy having you here to fly . toney

Thanks Toney,
Hopefully we will get a chance to meet this weekend. It will most defiantly be a GREAT weekend!

Thanks everyone for all the information you have given me! This weekend I went to compete at my first IMAC event in Abilene and saw some great pilots and some planes I would have liked to own. I was however not the youngest pilot at the event even at 15, there was a great kid age 12 I got a chance to meet and compete with named Johnathan Jennings.( Wonderful pilot)! who in the end took second in basic at his first IMAC as well, I took third in basic with 2.5 points separating me and Johnathan. Overall I had a blast and am defiantly going to continue IMAC as I have finally found what I really enjoy most of all.

Thanks everyone at the Abilene contest who made it possible and from all the guys who game me tips, and who I can now call my friends.

Thanks,

-Jason S. Meadows

Fantastic!! Congrats on a great finish!

We are happy to have you in IMAC !

Move Up! JK! Welcome to IMAC!

Great stuff Jason. This hobby on the whole (RC models) is an activity you can enjoy for the rest of your life for hours of enjoyment and relaxation. This portion of the hobby (IMAC) will provide you with new life long friends and commaradery around the world. Congratulations on your first of many contests and events to come.

Thanks once again guys for the support!!! Glad to be here with you guys in this great hobby/ now a sport for me! Might be heading to sherman TX. in 2 weeks for my second contest already!

The cowtown Imac in Benbrook is coming up fast and hoping to compete in it. anyone else going?

Jason,

Just catching up on this thread and see that you took third in your first contest, not bad at all. I know the feeling about the age thing, I'm 49 and getting my butt handed to me by a 13 yr old in Sportsman and next year we both are going to INtermediate so I still have to deal with him.

We have a 16 yr old that was in Basic and Sportsman last year, and went trough Intermediate, Advanced and is kicking major booty in Unlimited right now and looks to be all but unstoppable and all of that this year

well im hoping I can just do ok at the next event so maybe after this upcoming season ill move up to sportsman.

Hi All .....Im planning on compeating at next years St.George Utah Imac competition and just starting
to get use to a giant scail - Extreme Flights 88"yak 54 w/ 50cc DA, carbon tuned pipe. I love this bird and Imac
scedules are changing they way I fly very rapidly. these are my questions: she is very very light wing loading
possibly too light for a rooky and I get blown sidways in the air, im trying to learn my rudder but its chalenging.
also because she's so light im really messing up my landings no matter how much i practice in the sim, very nervis about bringing her in low over the ruff field on finnal aproch and any bit of up ele causes her to get too high above the threshold, any coaching is greatly needed to keep her safe from a crash, please help

thanx Sean

Sean,

The plane sounds like it's tail heavy and most likely you are coming in a bit fast. Remember the plane is bigger so it will look like it's too slow. Go up high and stall it, you'll see how slow it needs to go to actually stall

really slow..... like walking speed almost, she's actuly way nose heavy and quit light in the tail.
one thing i noticed yesterday is i keep forgeting to thottle cut before final she dead sticked once becuase
i forgot to idel up before take off, I think i need more practice, every time i take her up the pros ( ya shure)
come up behind and ofer too much info while im flying, dont think iv ever just flown this bird for fun yet
maby thats the problem.

Glad to have young pilots like you in IMAC. I am in my third year of IMAC competition at age 63 and I still get nervous. My best solution has been listening to my favorite music with ear buds just prior to taking off.

Thanks for all the tips guys we all really appreciate it. Sean I used to get nervous about bringing a big plane that I loved so close to the ground as well, I got on youtube and watched tons and tons of sponsored pilots land perfectly I practiced on the sim hour after hour and still couldn't get it perfect. Then I was on youtube and ran over a video where the pilot was giving tips and he said " Remember the airplane can fly itself all you have to do is tell it where to go, and as for landing fly the plane all the way to the ground never stop flying it until that prop stops spinning" So now most of the time when im on base to final I tell myself to just fly the plane to the ground and it has seemed to work, I haven't had to bad of a landing in a while maybe this will help you as it did me.

Hey guys I know its been awhile since I went to Abilene but found some videos my mom took of me flying at my first IMAC where I placed third.... just copy and paste the links in the address bar and it should take you to youtube where you can see the videos... also feel free to comment on the videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nE6JAV5ocm8>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQOJST3M3yM>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emEHBI5gzVI&g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDCqY8GLc7A>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04Hw6Ft6qoA>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2rmaGdJnoI>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nE6JAV5ocm8>